Pregnancy and Oral Care

Pregnancy and the first year of your baby’s life are a very special time. While pregnant, continue to see the dentist for exams and cleanings. You’ll want to think about taking good care of yourself and getting your baby’s life off to a healthy start. Your oral health is an important part of your overall health. Good oral health habits not only prevent oral problems during pregnancy, they can also affect the health of your unborn child.

A balanced diet is critical for proper development of an unborn child. The baby’s teethbuds begin to form in the second month of pregnancy. Your diet should include adequate amounts of vitamins A, C, D, protein, calcium, and phosphorus to help develop teeth. Inadequate nutrition can result in poorly formed tooth enamel.

Dental decay causing bacteria (Streptococcus mutans), can be transmitted to the mouth of a newborn baby, so it is important to have teeth free of decay before the birth of the child. Otherwise it makes the child more susceptible to dental decay when teeth erupt. Most dental problems can be properly treated while pregnant.